Brighton Stuns Arsenal in FA Cup Quarter-Final Upset with 2-0 Victory
Arsenal faced a surprising exit from the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals for the second consecutive season, losing 2-0 to Brighton & Hove Albion at Borehamwood. This defeat marks a continued drought for Arsenal, who have not lifted the Women’s FA Cup in over a decade, despite recently knocking out Chelsea in the Champions League. Brighton’s success was spearheaded by former Chelsea forward Fran Kirby, who delivered two crucial assists. The scoring opened shortly after half-time when Madison Haley received a precise pass from Kirby and executed a superb finish into the top corner, putting Brighton ahead 1-0. Just 15 minutes later, a deep corner from Kirby found Caitlin Hayes, who headed the ball in at the far post, extending Brighton’s lead and enhancing their chances of securing their first major trophy in women’s football. The victory was well-deserved for Brighton, who capitalized on an Arsenal side that appeared disjointed and fatigued following their midweek match. Notably, Arsenal opted to start star players Alessia Russo, Katie McCabe, and Olivia Smith on the bench, a decision that may have contributed to their lackluster performance. This defeat comes after Arsenal's previous quarter-final exit at home against Liverpool last season, demonstrating a troubling trend for the historically dominant club. Liverpool, meanwhile, faced Charlton Athletic in the other quarter-final match.
Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-04-05